Dead Air

Yeah, things have been quiet around here.

Partly because my stupid internet provider got bought out by another stupid interner provider, and as they were switching things over from one system to another something got broken – which means I’ve been internet-less. (My hacker roommate has happily riged something up until the tech arrives next week).

Work has been crazy busy with a media frenzy. One of the programs I manage got some nice coverage in a major paper this week, as well as another article in a tiny local paper. AND THEN a television program picked up on the story, and called to see if they could feature us on their show. Crazy-ness I tell you. Absolute crazy-ness! (Media attention is nice and good – but when you are dealing with kids, it means a lot of release forms!)

In other news . . .

I got flowers from someone (not romantic) They are beautiful!

My grandmother visited this weekend. It was good.

I went to church for the first time in ages (and survied!)

The weather this weekend was GEORGEOUS

Suburban libraries are awesome (I'm number 17 on the Artemis Fowl list in the city system, but the suburban system has it avaliable right now! I used my old card to put it on hold, and by this time tomorrow I'll have Artemis Book 5!!!)

I have a Girl Scout meeting tomorrow night (which is good, I can swing by the library on my way over!) We're going to actaully be sorta GS-like and celebrate Juliet Lowe's birthday. This is my 4th to last meeting )-:

This receipie for cinnanom walnuts is really really good (and it *is* very aromatic!)

Artemis Fowl
Everytime the news guy says "Foley"
I think of the centur from Artemis Fowl
Not the recently retired congressman

Folay the centur is much more interesting than Foley the congressman
Speaking of which, I'm on the library waiting list for book 5
But it is going to be a long wait - there are 17 people in front of me

That's all from the land of boring
Good Night

Random

1. Ryan made All State (yippeeeee!!!!!!!)

2. My grandmother is visitn next week. I'm taking her to orchestra hall for her first "classical" concert!

3. I broke my brand new bread machine )-:

4. I'm really proud of myself for a brave moment I had this morning

5. I owe a lotta people emails.

6. Laundry startch is one of the greatest inventions ever. Why didn't anyone ever tell me about this magic stuff that makes ironing easy????

Pastor endorses Bachmann; IRS gets complaint

The right wing conservative Republican christians around here are screaming "Censorship!" and "Free Speech!"
(I must say, it's odd to hear the conservative republican christians screaming "free speech" and "censorship")

If you want free speech, pay taxes
If you're tax-exempt, don't get involved in politics
It's really rather simple.

Juvinille Deliquent: ‘Why am I reading about mice?’

Prision Warden:‘Shuddup and read the book.’

Yeah.
I don't think Redwall is the type of book I'd like to read
But the audio book makes for great before bed listening
That's all I'm saying

Article about kids reading Redwall

Tonight I handed over the key
And the books
And the registration forms
And the sashes
And began phasing out

I've been thinking hard about my little Girl Scout Troop, and the sad sorry truth is - I can't do it any more. Full time employment plus living an hour away is too much. And so I'm phasing out of this little unorthodox troop.

It makes me sad.
I don't want to leave
I like my girls

BUT . . . I made a six month comittment to this troop TWO YEARS AGO - and it's silly to drive an hour for a GS meeting (and then drive home). I need to find something closer to my place.

I've comitted to four more meetings with the hope that we can find a new leader in the next month or so.
Sad

I know that three months from now, if it were to be thirty-some degrees outside, I would be running around (without a coat) in a t-shirt.

But today, thirty-some degrees feels mighty cold.

Afternoon Giggle
via Fearfully Human

And then Bush said North Korea shouldn't be doing things in defiance of the will of the international community.
AHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sigh. He's hilarious.

Today I made apple pie (with an oatmeal cookie crust)
And Fantan Rolls (Courtsey of Father Dominic)
Plus stuffed acorn squash (a Moosewood recipe)
And there's some honey oatmeal bread baking right now.
My little apartment smells fabulous.
(And the scent of cinnamon, apples, onion, fresh bread, etc. wafts out of my place, down the hallway - all the way to the elevators!)

My roommate asked, "Is this your way of getting revenge on the smoker next door?"
Yes - I think it is.
Let the Aroma Wars begin!

heretic - n. person who has expressed formal denial or doubt of defined doctrine

Heehee - Eduwonk called me a heretic (in the nicest way possible!)
It's not the first time I've been called such a thing.
TK reffered to me as a heretic I've self identified as one, and have even taunted (trolled) a few obnixously conservative robots into calling me names.

In my not-so-humble opinion heretics are way more interesting that "normal" people
It's so much better (and fun-er) to research, talk, think, listen, and come to a conclusion (or realize you can't come to a conclusion) than to trust the status quo. We don't shake things up just for the sake of shaking; we're trying to find truth hidden/buried by propaganda. (And sometimes we're even right!)
Heretics Unite!

Julie’s Lunch

Two handfuls of generic Cheerios (slightly stale)
One small handful of sunflower seeds
One handful of rasins
Just enough wal mart brand chocolate chips to make me happy
All of the leftover chow mien noodles

Dump everything into plastic container and shake.
Add a cup of tea and an apple for a practially perfect lunch -
delicious, nutritious, easy and cheap!

New Teachers are the Best!

Research reveals that 80 per cent of staff in their first seven years in the classroom produced value-added results at or above the expected level. But this fell to 68 per cent for those with between eight and 23 years’ experience and to 59 per cent for those with 24 years or more

Professor Christopher Day, who led the study, said: “This was a surprise to us. Until now it was thought that when you enter teaching you are a novice and you move through stages until you become an expert.

Full article via ArtsJournal